Seoul: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is attempting to extend his hereditary power into a fourth generation, but a military coup over the matter is unlikely, a former North Korean diplomat said Monday. Ri Il-gyu, a former political affairs counselor at the North Korean Embassy in Cuba who defected to South Korea last year, highlighted this perspective in his presentation materials during a discussion in Seoul on North Korea's human rights situation. According to Yonhap News Agency, recent years have seen Kim Jong-un frequently accompanied by his daughter, believed to be Ju-ae, at major public events. This has fueled speculation that she may be groomed to succeed him as the next leader. Ri described the appearances of Kim's daughter, coupled with the media referring to her as "respected," as an "apparent intention" to solidify a four-generation transfer of his hereditary rule. Ri further explained that younger generations in North Korea, who are increasingly exposed to South Korean pop culture and other ext ernal influences, may oppose the third hereditary power transfer. However, Kim Jong-un, fully aware of this potential opposition, is reportedly intensifying public scrutiny and control. Ri noted, "As long as there is no emergency incident, such as Kim Jong-un's death or a military attack from outside, the Kim regime may retain its relative stability." He added that while it is too early to confirm the daughter as Kim's successor, her public appearances might be a strategic move by Kim to communicate to the public that his lineage will continue to lead. This perspective aligns with the assessment made by South Korea's spy agency in January, which identified Ju-ae as Kim's "most likely successor," marking the agency's first assessment of her possible succession in the reclusive regime.